STROKE WATCH“Yesterday is the past, tomorrow is the future and every day is a new beginning”

AN OCCASIONAL NEWSLETTER PUBLISHED BY EAST KENT STROKES (CHARITY NO: 1122466) NUMBER 23, 2011

Our Monthly Get-togethersLunch times approx. 12:30

Mondays at the Hythe Fish Barin the Pavilion at Eastwell Manor,

Boughton Lees5 Dec, 2 Jan, 6 Feb, 5 Mar, 2 Apr,

7 May, 4 Jun, 2 Jul

Tuesdays at The Red Lion,Hernhill, nr. Whitstable

15 Nov, 10 Jan, 14 Feb, 13 Mar,10 Apr, 15 May, 12 Jun, 10 Jul

Thursdays at the Fayreness,Kingsgate, Broadstairs

24 Nov, 22 Dec, 19 Jan, 23 Feb,22 Mar, 19 Apr, 24 May, 21 Jun, 19 Jul

Thursdays at The Duke ofCumberland, Barham, Canterbury1 Dec & 29 Dec, 26 Jan, 1 & 29 Mar,

26 Apr, 31 May, 28 Jun, 26 Jul

2012 EventsEKS continues to offer a varied selectionof outings. A good chance to enjoy new

experiences and, as usual, have a chat andmeet friends – old and new.

• Dates of events for the comingyear have not yet been finalised, butwill be announced in the next issue

of Stroke WatchOptions and contact details

are listed below

GOLFRoundwood Hall Par 3Stone Street, Lyminge,Folkestone CT18 8DJ

off B2068 (Folkestone end!)Tel: 01303 862260

Contact: Harry Brenner Tel: 01843 835080

Email: harrybrenner@supanet.com

Kingfisher Boat Trips, WateringburyContact: Geraldine Wyant

Tel: 01227 721319Email: geraldine@kola18.demon.co.uk

Gliding at ChallockContact: Geraldine Wyant

Tel: 01227 721319Email: geraldine@kola18.demon.co.uk

Jessica is seen here with Louis, who suffered astroke in the first few weeks of his life!

WE ARE pleased to announce that, underthe Chairmanship of Tim Redfearn (Jessica’sDad), the EKS Childhood Stroke sub-groupis now up and running – or ‘swimming’ to bemore accurate!

See www.ekschildhoodstrokes.co.ukFund raising plans are well under way with

their theme of ‘A Stroke For A Stroke’, sothat the same level of help and support canbe offered to carers/parents of children livingin Kent who suffer strokes.

A Kentish Express article of October 20has already produced enquiries and aninterview on Radio Kent on October 22,

Get moving, get outand about with theflexible EKS vehicles!

Childhood Strokes isup and Swimming!

conducted by Pat Marsh,was a great success.

Jessica’s friend SamChamberlain (aged 17) istraining hard for herChannel swim later in2012 and will beswimming at FolkestoneBaths on December 11,from 11am - 2pm, with atarget of 365 lengths –one for every day of theyear, as research showsthat one baby or childsuffers a stroke every day.

The swim is open toALL and sponsor formsare available from....tredfearn1@gmail.com, orcall on 01233 661 525.

THE COMMITTEE are concerned that moreuse could be made of our vehicles by members– not just as transport to and from our regulargatherings, but on those many other occasionswhen the seemingly impossible can be madepossible. See, for example, the story andphotographs on page 6, where one of ourvehicles on ‘Wedding Duty’ made the Insellfamily’s special occasion that much easier!

We worked hard to buy them and need tojustify the running costs of insurance andmaintenance. Fuel is provided by our partnersin the project, Wealden Wheels and ThanetCommunity Transport, so we only ask for aminimal sum of £25 for a half-day or £50whole-day usage. Any extended use, weekendsor holidays, would be subject to special terms.

Remember, there is a full size mobilityscooter also available with each vehicle andthis can be carried in place of a wheelchair.This is ideal for anyone with limited mobility,allowing for a garden visit or a spin on thepromenade for some sea air with the family!

Our Vehicles have flexible configurations(1) Four passengers, plus driver and

wheelchair passenger(2) Four passengers, plus driver with

mobility scooter space(3) Six passengers, plus driver with

luggage/dog space

You only have to ask, giving as much noticeas possible, and we will deal with your requeston a “First Come” basis.

We even have volunteer drivers on call!Contact John Towner on 01233 840448 for

the Ashford based vehicle, orGeraldine Wyant on 01227 721319 for the

Broadstairs based vehicle.

THANK YOU BISON PRINT

EKS is very grateful to Bison Print of Maidstone, who came for-ward and offered to print this and future newsletters at a spe-cial rate – matching the lowest we had obtained elsewhere butoffering better quality paper and colour reproduction, as we aresure you can see!

It is heartening to experience this generosity to a charity inthese difficult times.

COPIES of two important items that were too lengthy to print in full or toeffectively summarize in this issue of Stroke Watch...

• The Stroke Association Position Paper on Welfare Reform• The Stroke Associaton Summary of Benefits, Reforms and

possible effects on Stroke Survivors

.. can be sent to members either as an e-mail attachment, or as print-outs.contact Ian McKay at ianmckay1@btinternet.com, or on 01795 890475.

Those magnificent men

DISABLED people took part in protests across the UK againstgovernment spending cuts on October 22. Organisers of theHardest Hit campaign say rallies took place at 14 places fromBrighton to Edinburgh. The protesters object to benefit changes,including cuts in disability living allowance, and local servicecutbacks.

Ministers say the welfare system is currently failing people andthat reforms will see benefits go to those who need them.

The protests, organised by the UK Disabled People’s Counciland the Disability Benefits Consortium, follow on from ademonstration in May in central London. Steve Winyard,

co-chairman of the Hardest Hit coalition, says the “one singleachievement” of disability minister Maria Miller is that she hasunited the disability movement.

Winyard said: “The proposed cuts have brought togetherdisability charities and disabled people’s organisations into asingle united force, where previously we’ve had a difficultrelationship with differences on policy and ideology.”

Fellow chairman, Jaspal Dhani, said the government had brokenits promise to protect disabled people from spending cuts. “Thelast 12 months have seen a string of cuts that have hit disabledpeople the hardest, from benefits changes to local authoritiesslashing social care budgets and axing concessionary bus passes.Disabled people can’t be squeezed any further, that is why somany of us will be joining the Hardest Hit protests in cities acrossthe country and online.”

Scope says disabled people “could lose vital benefits”

MANY disabled people risk losing essential payments underplanned benefits changes, a charity has warned. Scope says theproposed test of claimants’ need is flawed for focusing on thedisability but ignoring relevant factors like housing and transport.Thousands could be left with little or no financial support, Scopewarns.

The government argues new payments will be more effectivelytargeted to those in greatest need, while cutting overpayments of£600m a year. Some 3.2 million disabled people, includingchildren, receive the existing disability living allowance. It is in lineto be replaced by the personal independence payment, which fea-tures in the government’s Welfare Reform Bill.

A new medical assessment has been drawn up that will be car-ried out on disabled people of working age, of whom there areabout two million. But, according to Scope, that assessment“doesn't take into consideration all the barriers that disabledpeople face in daily life.”

PEOPLE with psoriasis have nearly three times the normal risk ofstroke and abnormal heart rhythm, according to scientists inDenmark. A study of 4.5 million people, published in theEuropean Heart Journal, showed the highest risk was in youngpatients with severe psoriasis. Researchers believe this may bebecause the skin and blood vessels may share similar sources ofinflammation.

Psoriasis ‘linked to stroke risk’say Danish researchers

Left Geoff Veck,looking as relaxed asever, now has moregliding hours than anyother EKS member.He is neverthelessabout to be joined byan instructor,Phil Crabb!

Far left: Bob Enockprepares to take hisfirst ever glider flight –in the hands of instructor Bob Tapsell– and now can’t waitto go up again!

‘Hardest Hit’ campaign sees nationwide protests

“HOORAY!!! Yippeee!!!” Following my initial ‘Free DiscoverScuba’ experience in Margate on the 7th of April and signing up gotan ‘Open Water’ scuba diving course that would allow me to dive toa 12 metre depth – and after a delay of about six weeks of not beingable to swim due to a bad ear infection! – I finally and successfullycompleted my ‘Open Water’ course on the 21st of August.

I am thrilled and now so much more confident in my achieving mydream of diving on the Great Barrier Reef, off the coast of NorthernQueensland, Australia. I can now go ahead and make dive-daybookings with a company called Diving Cairns, who appear to offerexactly the dives that I want for the right price, and at a 10%

What Toby Did Next! ...or, Great Barrier Reef, here I come!!

in their flying machines...

wondered, would my my disability actually prevent me from learningto scuba dive? If that were possible, then I would I be able to diveand see one of the great wonders of the natural world at even closerquarters.

I took the plunge, I tried it and I succeeded. I now have greaterconfidence in my ability to achieve something that, perhaps, not toomany disabled people would contemplate, and that has instilled inme a great desire to share the thrill and excitement of scuba divingwith other disabled people.

Scuba is for everyone, and Shaun Connell (my instructor) andeveryone connected with scubAbility.net and Kent Scuba offer awonderful way to learn safely.

The brilliant support and encouragement that I received fromShaun, from Karin, and from the numerous “buddy” divers – bothDaves, Colin (Shrek), Mark, RonRon – in fact all connected to KentScuba and scubAbility.net was second to none. Their care, support,encouragement, determination and good humour got me through.

The wonder of scuba is that it is for all abilities – but, as I havepointed out before, everyone who wants to get involved must firsthave written medical clearance from their doctor that they are fit todive. Once you have that, you are free to explore the underwaterworld.

As my new friend, Shaun, says – “Happy Bubbles!”Toby Gower

discount for opting for a three dives perday, two dive-day package – one that willsee me diving from Cairns on the first day,and from Port Douglas on the second day.

I will book the 9th and 10th of May ofnext year for dive days, with all divinggear, refreshments and delicious lunchesincluded. However, I also intend to takemy own mask and snorkel and will arrangefor underwater digital photos to be taken,so keep your eyes peeled for the headline‘Toby Dives the Great Barrier Reef’ in afuture issue of Stroke Watch!

I am really happy that I made thedecision to try scuba diving. My firstthoughts after receiving a suggestion frommy ex-pat friends in Cairns that I shouldfly out and visit them was to wonder at theopportunities that such a trip wouldprovide. I would be able see the sights, seethe wildlife, see the back country (theBush!) and the beaches, have a “proper”barbecue, go big-game fishing, or see theDaintree Forest, a prehistoric woodlandfeatured in David Attenborough’s FirstLife television series.

As far as the Great Barrier Reef wasconcerned, my original plan was to see itfrom a glass-bottomed boat, but, I

TOBY Gower’s enthusiasm and willingness to try almost anything,to grasp opportunities that might broaden and expand hisenjoyment of life, is well known to many EKS members. Toby’seagerness to persuade others to try something new, to share hisenthusiasms, is irresistible, as readers of previous contributions toStroke Watch will know – even if, in this unbridled enthusiasm,Toby’s un-edited copy often contains more exclamation marks thanyou could shake a stick at! With that in mind, I thought that Toby’sadventures might in future be printed under a generic headingborrowed from a once popular writer of children’s stories, SusanCoolidge – What Toby Did Next!

IM

Left A tight squeeze for former Army Air Corps pilot,Ken Lynwood, who has experience of a great many othertypes, but had never before flown in a glider. The gliders areSchleicher ASK21s, of which the KGC has three.

...and ther ladies are great too

Though all those picturedhere on a recent

EKS Gliding Day at the Kent Gliding Club,Challock, are chaps, theladies regularly take to

the skies as well.Have you soared yet?

Will we see you getairborne in 2012?

UK stem cell stroke trialpasses first safety testTHE world’s first clinical trial of brain stem cells to treat strokesis set to move to its next phase.

An independent assessment of the first three patients to havehad stem cells injected into their brain at Glasgow’s SouthernGeneral Hospital has concluded it has had no adverse effect. Theassessment paves the way for the therapy to be tested on morepatients to find a new treatment for stroke. The hope is that thestem cells will help to repair damaged brain tissue.

The trial is being led by Professor Keith Muir of GlasgowUniversity, who told BBC News that he was pleased with theresults so far.

“We need to be assured of safety before we can progress totrying to test the effects of this therapy. Because this is the firsttime this type of cell therapy has been used in humans, it’s vitallyimportant that we determine that it’s safe to proceed – so at thepresent time we have the clearance to proceed to the next higherdose of cells.”

An elderly man was the first person in the world to receive thistreatment last year. Since then it has been tried out on two morepatients.

Increased prevalence ofstroke hospitalisations seenin teens and young adultsA STUDY conducted by researchers at the Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention (CDC) found that ischemic strokehospitalisation rates in adolescents and young adults aged 15-44 inthe US increased up to 37 per cent between 1995 and 2008. Thefindings reported an increase in the prevalence of diabetes,obesity, lipid disorders, and tobacco use among this age groupduring the 14-year study period. In addition, nearly one in threepatients aged 15-34 years and over half aged 35-44 years were alsodiagnosed with hypertension.

Dr Lorna Laywood of The Stroke Association says: “A strokecan happen to anyone at any time no matter what age. Peopleusually associate strokes with older people, but a quarter of allstrokes happen to people of working age, and around 400 childrenhave a stroke every year in the UK.

“We know that high blood pressure is the biggest risk factor forstroke, along with other factors such as obesity, diabetes, poor dietand smoking. This research emphasises the need for people to beaware that stroke can affect younger people, and for all of us,regardless of our age, to check our blood pressure and adopt ahealthy lifestyle.”

Irregular heartbeat drug‘cuts stroke risk’A NEW drug for treating people with an irregular heartbeathas fewer side effects than the standard treatment and is justas good at cutting the risk of stroke, according to newresearch. Rivaroxaban, which is easier for people to take, is aseffective as warfarin at preventing blood clots and thuslowering the risk of stroke for patients with atrial fibrillation.The findings published in the New England Journal ofMedicine were made by researchers based at the University ofEdinburgh and the Duke University in North Carolina.

It has been estimated that about 800,000 Britons haveirregular heartbeats. The risk of stroke can be four to sixtimes higher in people suffering from the condition.

The study, which involved 14,000 patients, compared theeffects of warfarin – the standard drug that prevents clottingin people with irregular heartbeats – with Rivaroxaban. Theoccurrence of bleeding was similar for both drugs but it wasfound that the risk of fatal bleeding on the brain was morethan halved, from five per 1000 to two per 1000 in patientstaking Rivaroxaban.

‘Robot legs’ for strokepatients trialled in HollandSCIENTISTS in the Netherlands are using robotic legs to try andimprove the movement of stroke patients. The prototype device iscalled the Lower-extremity Powered ExoSkeleton, or LOPES, andworks by training the body and mind of a patient to recover amore natural step. The machine is also being tested on spinalinjury patients who have recovered some restricted movement intheir legs. It is hoped a commercial version could be available torehabilitation centres, worldwide, as early as next year.

An apple (or pear) a day maykeep strokes at bayEATING lots of fruit and vegetables with white flesh may help toprotect against strokes, says a study in the journal Stroke, butDutch researchers say they do not know why people with a highintake of apples, pears, bananas or cauliflower reduce their risk ofstroke by 52%. A 10 year study followed more than 20,000 adults.

At the start of the study, carried out in The Netherlands,participants were asked to fill in a detailed questionnaire on dietand lifestyle for the previous year. By using this information andtracking the health of participants over the following decade,researchers were able to examine the link between the colour offruit and vegetables consumed and stroke risk.

The study found that a 25g per day increase in white fruits andvegetables was linked to a 9% lower risk of stroke. Of the whitefruit and veg eaten, over half was apples and pears, but no linkwas found between stroke incidence and green (dark leafyvegetables, cabbages and lettuces) orange/yellow (mostly citrusfruits) or red/purple fruits and vegetables.

Chocolate may protect the brainand heart says BMJ studyEATING high levels of chocolate could reduce the risk ofcoronary heart disease and stroke, according to a review ofprevious research. Data from 114,009 patients suggested risk wascut by about a third, according to a study published on the BritishMedical Journal website, but the researchers warned that excessiveconsumption would result in other illnesses. The British HeartFoundation said there were better ways to protect the heart.

The analysis, conducted by scientists at the University ofCambridge, compared the risk to the brain and heart in groups ofpeople who reported eating low levels of chocolate, fewer thantwo bars per week, with those eating high levels – more than twobars per week. It showed that the “highest levels of chocolateconsumption were associated with a 37% reduction incardiovascular disease and a 29% reduction in stroke comparedwith the lowest levels”. However, if you want to reduce your heartdisease risk, there are much better places to start than at thebottom of a box of chocolates

Depressed women at greater riskWOMEN with depression may also be at increased risk of havinga stroke, US research suggests. A study of 80,000+ women foundthose with a history of depression had a 29% increased risk ofstroke. The research, in Stroke: Journal of the American HeartAssociation, said doctors should be aware people with depressionmay neglect their general health. The women, all aged 54-79, weretaking part in a Nurses’ Health Study which has been followingwomen across the US since the mid ’70s. Researchers looked atdata from 2000-06. None had had a stroke before the study began,while 22% had been diagnosed with depression.

Compared with women without a history of depression,depressed women were more likely to be single, smokers and lessphysically active. They were also slightly younger, had a higherbody mass index and conditions such as high blood pressure, heartdisease and diabetes.

That was SummerMemories of the 2011 EKS Garden Party

THANKS to the generosity of our President,Amanda Cotterell, and the kind weather (just!), wewere able to enjoy yet another successful Summer

Garden Party in idyllic surroundings.With the help and support of our faithful

stallholders, as well as some new ones, with thesound of live music from Ian Shawcross’s band, with

hats fancy and funny, and with Di Towner’s fruitcakes, served so cheerfully by the ‘Tea Ladies’, who

could have failed to enjoy the occasion!All this created an atmosphere that made it

painless to support the raffle – thereby contributingto the overall net funds raised of £1200. Our thanksto all who “had a go” and to the many sponsors who

donated the valuable prizes.The photos are a selection of those provided by

Mel Smith of Rose Farm Studios, Pluckley, who alsomanned the gate with his wife, Lizzy, and provided a

prize for the raffle!

JT

WHEN my dad suffered a major strokein March of this year, leaving him with aleft-sided paralysis, it devastated us all asa family. My lovely dad had treasuredgoing out to the supermarket and thelocal farm shop, but when the stroke hit,this was no longer possible. Dad’sindependence gone overnight, somethingwe all had to get used too.

He was discharged home from hospitalin June and all he wanted was to go outshopping with us all. To make thispossible I booked a wheelchair friendlytaxi to take us all to our local Sainsbury’s.

From then on it was a series ofunfortunate and upsetting incidents!

The taxi was late picking us up and itwas then a stranger putting dad in thetaxi (taking ten minutes to do it) andthen getting him out again. Dad was veryhappy to be going out – but not happywith being in a taxi.

Returning home, we had to wait evenlonger to be picked up from thesupermarket. None of this felt personalor independent. We used a wheelchairtaxi again a month later and it allhappened again. We couldn’t go homewhen we wanted and the fuss and waiting

to have the ramps assembled seemed aneternity. None of us enjoyed the experi-ence!

Then my mum and dad wereintroduced to East Kent Strokes and wewere told about the adapted vehicle theyhave for hire. We were very happy toexplore the use of this vehicle, especiallyas my brother was getting married andwe were all worried about how on earthwill we get dad there and back. Not morewheelchair taxis!

We thought we would try the vehicleout first, so we knew what we were doingwhen it came to the day of the wedding.

To do this we took dad out shopping,something he always enjoys. We went toMorrisons with no waiting for taxis topick us up. We went and came back whenwe wanted. In fact, in addition toMorrisons, we also went to the farm shopand the pub – not to mention visiting mybrother on his stag night, where dad mayhave had a quick drink.

The one thing my dad said was howindividual and special the vehicle madehim feel, with no stranger getting him andout and no hanging around and waiting.

It was so nice.

On the day of my brother’s weddingwe had the vehicle all weekend, whichmade it easier for all of us. There was norushing around on the day itself to goand get the vehicle. We thought, let’s putsome ribbon on the vehicle so it becamea real part of the wedding.

What a blessing the vehicle was. Wewere able to go as a family to mybrother’s wedding and it was so muchmore personal than a taxi. It also gave mydad back some of his independence.

We know he can’t drive, but he feelsmore independent with the use of thevehicle, as he decides where he wants togo and we just drive.

If it wasn’t for East Kent Strokes, Idon’t think my dad would get out asmuch as he does. We are already planningour next trip out together and none ofthis would be possible without the use ofthe EKS vehicle.

The use of the vehicle is somethingwhich gives my dad a little bit of controlover his life and it has given him backsome independence, happiness andenjoyment as a family, something fromwhich we all benefit.

Kelly Croucher

THANK YOU SO MUCHTHE committee are always most grateful for the thoughtfulgestures that help greatly to ensure the future of the helpand support that EKS provides to it’s members.

• Yet again we are most grateful to Alan Gregory, whonominated EKS as one of two charities for donations at arecent ‘Big Birthday’ celebration, from which we recievedthe very welcome sum of £485. See photograph left

• Margaret Norton-Smith also had a special birthday(number not disclosed!) and persuaded her family andfriends to donate, a gesture that has added a generous £212to EKS funds.

• David & JackieInsell had a family wedding and wewere delighted that our vehicle helped them get the Brides’Dad to the church on time! They showed their appreciationby an impromptu collection at the reception that raised£150 for EKS funds.

Jackie Insell’s daughter tells the story herself, below....

Above: Alan Gregory presents EKS chairman, Robin Cant withmonies raised for EKS at what he called a ‘Big Birthday’ cele-bration. The presentation was made at one of our regularluncheon get-togethers at the Fayreness Hotel.

Independence thanks to EKS

Strokes hit ten years earlier if you’re a smoker...RESEARCHERS have found that smokers run double the risk of strokes caused by a blood clotand are around three times more likely to suffer a stroke than those who avoid cigarettes – andthey can expect to do so a decade earlier than non-smokers.

Scientists examined more than 950 stroke patients and found that around 700 of them weresmokers, compared with just 250 non-smokers. The average age of stroke patients was also analysed– among smokers it was just 58, compared with a much older average of 67 among non-smokers.

The team from the University of Ottawa in Canada also found that smokers who have a minorstroke are ten times more likely to go on to have a major stroke, especially if they continue tosmoke. Some hope was offered to smokers by the team that said the risk of stroke is reduced to thesame level as it is with non-smokers within 18 months to two years of quitting.

Stimulating brain with electricity aids learning...ELECTRICALLY stimulating the brain can help to speed up the process of learning, scientistshave shown. Applying a small current to specific parts of the brain can increase its activity,making learning easier. Researchers from the University of Oxford have studied the changingstructure of the brain in stroke patients and in healthy adults. Prof Heidi Johansen-Berg presentedtheir findings at a British Science Festival in Bradford.

The team at Oxford has been conducting research into how the structure of the brain changes inadulthood, and in particular what changes occur after a stroke. They have used an approach calledfunctional MRI to monitor activity in the brain as stroke patients re-learn motor skills that werelost as a result of their illness.

One of the major findings is that the brain is very flexible and can restructure itself, growing newconnections and re-assigning tasks to different areas, when damage occurs or a specific task ispracticed. As part of this research, they investigated the possibility of using non-invasive electricbrain stimulation to improve the recovery of these motor skills – a short-term improvement instroke patients having already been noted. An unexpected result was found when the same brainstimulation was applied to healthy adults: their speed of learning was also significantly increased.

Survey seeks views on life as a stroke survivor THE Stroke Association is currently undertaking the most detailed and comprehensive survey everdone into what life is like as a stroke survivor - the Daily Life survey.

“We are aware that many people go on to have a successful and happy life after stroke. Howeverit is of great concern to us that there are many others that don’t. We intend to collect everyone’sexperiences, good and bad, so that we are in a better position to lobby and campaign at the highestlevel for those things which stroke survivors and carers say they need.

“The Stroke Association are at their most effective in campaigning when they can take strokesurvivors’ experiences, identify some key themes and then pass this on to influential decisionmakers such as politicians and commissioners who decide the future of health and social care. Yourexperience will give us the evidence to back up our claims.

“No experience is too small. The Daily Life survey is aimed at anyone who has had a stroke orcares for someone who has had a stroke. We want to know your experiences and what, if anything,would help make life easier. We want to know about the daily challenges you face, the support youreceive at home and whether that support meets your needs.”

A copy of the survey can be found at www.stroke.org.uk/dailylife, or obtained by calling 020 75660317 - but all responses are needed by 1 December 2011.

Stroke service awards for the William Harvey THE William Harvey Hospital has been rated the third best hpospital in the UK for stoke care, asthe Kentish Express was pleased in an August issue. The announcement was made in a report fromthe Royal College of Physicians, which held an audit measuring the quality of care in patients’ first72 hours in hospital. David Hargroves, the William Harvey’s stroke care boss, said “We aredelighted at this confirmation of the high quality of care we have been delivering to our patients.”

The strength of the stroke service at East Kent Hospitals Trust was one of the factors in it beingnamed ‘Trust of the Year’ by the health care information centre, Dr Foster.

Stroke and IT staff also won an NHS Journal award for their stoke telemedicne service, allowingdoctors to communicate and diagnose patients via a webcam, speeding up treatment if it is the mid-dle of the night and the doctor is at home in bed.

Stroke rehabilitation centre for Tunbridge Wells THE new Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury will treat acute stroke patients.

A new, £400,000, twelve-bed stroke rehabilitation centre is to open in the Tonbridge CottageHospital. The unit will replace facilities at the Kent & Sussex Hospital when it closes later thismonth. An eight-bed stroke unit at the new Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury will treat themost acute patients, who will also be given rehabilitation therapies at the cottage hospital to helpthem overcome the disabilities caused by strokes.

When youare fed-up,just go and

Stroke a DogABOUT two years ago, Ihad two strokes – the firston a Sunday, and the otheron thefolliwng day,Monday, in the hospital. Afew days before I hadundergone an operation, sowhen I then requiredtreatment for my stroke, Ialready had a catheter andbag on my leg to drain offany blood. The clot-bustingdrug meant that I wouldlose even more blood, andI found out the next daythat they had given me twopacks of blood to make upthat loss!

Now about the dog!After a few days I was

feeling very sorry formyself because I couldn’tspeak much and could onlyeat soup and ice-cream. Iwas also missing my lovelygreyhound, Laura – so mywife, Mary, started bringingher in to see me.

The first time she cameinto the ward I couldn’thelp crying as she stoodbeside my bed, letting mestroking her. I made madeup my mind I wasn’t goingto lay in bed any longer. Iwanted to get home andtake her out again.I soon got back home,although I was still veryweak. I was only able towalk very slowly withLaura in the garden, andfor just for a minutes. Then,as I got stronger, bit by bit,we would first go to thegarden gate and, as I gotstronger still, I would takeher to the park – but it wasa few weeks before I couldtake her out for a properwalk..

As you know, when youhave had a stroke you canget very low at times. That’swhen a dog can be a bighelp. Laura can sense whenI feeling low and will comeover and lean on me. As Istroke her, I start to relax –and I call her my life saver.So, when you are fed up

GO AND STROKEA DOG.

Brian Jeffery

The views expressed in this newsletter do not represent those of East Kent Strokes. They are the personal views of the writers.We hope that they will generate responses from members (and others) that might be published in future editions of this newsletter.

Please send your comments, views ideas, and criticisms to Robin Cant.EAST KENT STROKES e-mail eastkentstrokes@btinternet.com WEBSITE: www.eastkentstrokes.wordpress.com

Chairman: Robin CANT, 199 The Street, Adisham, Canterbury, Kent, CT13 3LE. Tel: 01304 840196 Stroke Watch edited and produced by Ian McKay, e-mail ianmckay1@btinternet.com. Printed by Bison Print, Maidstone

2012 EVENTS

A brief report on an experimental trip to the WWI battlefields and cemeteries ofnorthern France is featured above, but the EKS Events Committee would wel-

come any other new ideas for outings or events.In addition to well established activities, we have also been looking at a visit tothe Royal Horticultural Society Garden at Wisley and opportunities to go HorseRiding (under close supervision and on animals used to all levels of ability) or

Sailing, which would be aimed at people who may have limited ability and onceagain, under expert guidance.

We are also organising a Mini Cruise to Amsterdam in Early May, with a visit tothe bulb fields of Holland at extra cost to be agreed. Four of us have decided to

go already, including our welfare officer Geraldine Wyant, and secretary SueWaple. The cost will be from around £350 per person, all inclusive, on the Fred

Olsen cruise liner Braemar for 3 nights, the price being dependent on cabin grade.Geraldine has experience of this vessel, which is smaller and more intimate thansome of the enormous cruise liners, and she tells us that the service and food are

second to none.Any other suggestions- please contact Geraldine Wyant.

ON an initially cold and rainy day in October, an advance partythat included members of the EKS committee visited thebattlefields and no fewer than 14 of the many cemeteries of theSomme. The trip was organised and meticulously planned byRobin Cant, our Chairman, who also provided us with veryinformative fact sheets for each of the stops on our tour. These,along with Robin’s commentary, gave us all a valuable insight intothe devastation and terrible loss of life that was the Battle of theSomme.

To see land still pockmarked with craters where shells hadfallen nearly 100 years ago, to wonder at the numberlesscemeteries of the British, French, Canadian and German soldiers,to visit Sir Edwin Lutyens’ imposing memorial at Thiepval tothose missing in action, those who have no known grave, was amoving experience and will forever remain in our memories.

The tour culminated with a visit to a small Mametz cemetery, aquiet little spot in woods where rests an entire company of theDevonshires, wiped out in one hopeless assault.

There, purely by chance, we were privileged to join a party ofEnglish schoolchildren who had come to pay their respects and toread the poems they had written for the occasion. Again, a specialmoment to cherish.

We ended the day on a more jovial note, with a meal at LeDétroit, a friendly restaurant in Calais that offered good food,wine and company. Who could ask for more?

Singing La Marseillaise we drove away, resolving to repeat thistour and indeed offer it as one of our future events for ourmembers. This pilot tour was judged by all to have been verysuccessful and likely be of interest to many others.

We will keep you posted. Sue Waple

The intimate andthe monumental...

At left theMametz resting

place of an entirecompany of the

Derbyshires, andright, the Thiepval

memorial to theUnknown Dead of

the Somme.

The social side ofour trip to the

Somme

At left, posing bythe bus with a vastpile of old potatoesas a backdrop, andright, wining and

dining at Le Détroitin Calais

Lest we forget – an EKS outing to theBattlefields of the Somme

Current EKS Committee

Robin Cant (Chair)

Hugh EllisonJohn H. Manley

Mary OliverMargaret Norton-Smith

John Towner(Deputy Chair & Acting Treasurer)

Brian WapleSue Waple (Secretary)

Marian WarnerGeraldine Wyant (Welfare Officer)